Iggy Azalea’s Ongoing Feud with Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin
Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, 34, continues to fuel her long-standing “beef” with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, despite him consistently ignoring her jabs.
The latest incident took place after Buterin made a rare public appearance at Singapore’s TOKEN2049 event, where he surprised the audience by singing about Ethereum’s advancements.
Vitalik singing was the bottom signalpic.twitter.com/Gl6WPQiLdm
— LilMoonLambo (@LilMoonLambo) September 20, 2024
The performance, while unusual for someone as reserved as Buterin, highlighted Ethereum’s milestones — lowering transaction fees through Layer 2 solutions, reducing confirmation times post-Merge, and navigating the balance between mainstream adoption and maintaining decentralisation.
Vitalik’s performance was met with a mix of amusement and respect within the crypto community.
Some praised him for stepping out of his comfort zone, including TRON founder Justin Sun, who commended his bravery.
I'm bullish here because we know this requires a lot of courage. @VitalikButerin 😂 pic.twitter.com/MZ5q5k9jpx
— H.E. Justin Sun🌞(hiring) (@justinsuntron) September 18, 2024
But for Iggy, the spectacle provided the perfect opportunity to reignite her feud, and she wasted no time criticising the Ethereum co-founder on social media.
Iggy Throws Shade at Vitalik Over TOKEN2049 Performance
Following Buterin’s performance, Iggy took to X (formerly Twitter) to throw shade at what she saw as the dull nature of crypto conferences.
A lot of yall online are VERY boring &
Big mad. Lmfaooooooooooooooo [...]
I don’t complain about watching you all mumble around on conference stages singing songs about crypto or other loser shit I’d be embarrassed as fuck to post.
Just wanna say:
A lot of yall online are VERY boring &
Big mad. Lmfaooooooooooooooo
Let people let loose and have fun for a night. Every single person at the party was aware they are on camera & we have zero issue with it…
I don’t complain about watching you all mumble…
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) September 21, 2024
Though she didn’t mention Buterin by name, it was clear to her followers who she was targeting.
For Iggy, Buterin’s quirky Ethereum-themed song was yet another example of how out of touch the Ethereum creator and his community are in her eyes.
The Origins of the Feud: Buterin’s Criticism of Celebrity Meme Coins
The ongoing tension between the rapper and the Ethereum creator stems from Buterin’s disdain for celebrity-driven crypto projects.
A few months ago, Buterin voiced his disapproval of how meme coin cycles had been co-opted by celebrities who, in his view, lacked a genuine interest in or understanding of the crypto ecosystem.
Without naming anyone specifically, Buterin lamented,
“I’m feeling quite unhappy about ‘this cycle’s celebrity experimentation’ so far. [...] How do we push things in a better direction?”
I'm feeling quite unhappy about with "this cycle’s celebrity experimentation" so far.
"Financialization as a means toward an end", I can respect if the end is worthy (healthcare, open source software, art, etc). Financialization *as the final product*, 🤮
Ashton and Mila's…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 5, 2024
Buterin’s comments didn’t sit well with Iggy, who has been promoting her own meme coin, MOTHER, since its launch on May 29, 2024.
Taking his remarks personally, she unleashed a series of X posts attacking Buterin.
Buterin, however, has remained silent, letting the feud be one-sided.
Iggy’s MotherLand Rodeo Party in Singapore
Fast forward to last Friday night, Iggy decided to host her own crypto-themed event in Singapore, which drew a mix of influencers, crypto enthusiasts, and controversy.
I’ve been contemplating making this post for awhile…
I completely understand the controversy now. Why everyone is up in arms. And it’s time I spoke out.
When @IGGYAZALEA hosted the motherland rodeo event…
I noticed something that is truly unacceptable. There is NOTHING that… pic.twitter.com/xHtW1f2RnO
— Easy (@EasyEatsBodega) September 22, 2024
Pretty wild and entertaining $MOTHER party by @IGGYAZALEA and her 36 dancers 🔥 last night. Crypto bros were shocked. 🤣 #motherland #rodeo pic.twitter.com/P6MMmNhecm
— Hanbonjovi (@hanbonjovi) September 21, 2024
Held at ARK11, the Token2048 side event was designed to promote her Solana-based meme coin, MOTHER, and her newly launched online casino, Motherland.
Even more than that!
It has sexxy ass girls that you can chat to while you play.
The live dealers are also hotties.
You can wager against friends.
You can chat to one another & even stream while you play.
I’m creating a newer better version of the traditional online casino… https://t.co/jRpHG4Li7k
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) September 20, 2024
The party, complete with performances of Iggy’s hits like "Fancy" and "Kream," was a wild affair that quickly made waves on social media.
Photos and videos from the event portrayed a scene that some deemed indecent and far removed from the ethos of the crypto world.
So @IGGYAZALEA’s $MOTHER rodeo party was wild 🤠
Huge congrats to @crypticprospero on the LAMBO pic.twitter.com/aAzG5q6o0D
— aventurine.9dcc.eth (@aventurine_eth) September 20, 2024
Does your founder throw you straps?? That’s how you know $MOTHER provides@IGGYAZALEA pic.twitter.com/BBt8AvOqNt
— TDoxys (@TDoxys) September 21, 2024
The backlash didn’t faze Iggy.
She immediately took to X, defending her party and mocking her critics.
Stop tryna explain how partying affects real-life business when you don’t even do high-level business deals to begin with. You can’t do sh*t to stop anything going on ‘cause you aren’t important, and the guys calling the shots are already in the building.
Tryna be the Crypto HR department
to a room full of people worth 100s of millions at a party for a meme of an ass is crazy hater vibes.
If yall knew all the who’s who in that building last night you’d cry.
All you’ve seen is KOL footage. broadcasting a lil degen chaos Is on…
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) September 21, 2024
Iggy further dismissed her critics—and by implication, Vitalik—as out of touch and irrelevant.
For her, the event was a legitimate way to connect with top figures in the industry, regardless of the negative perceptions it may have fostered.
Co-founder of collapsed cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, Su Zhu, was also spotted at the event.
we are so back pic.twitter.com/jcvrOY41oZ
— jessie (@JessieMorii) September 20, 2024
The Ethical Concerns Around Iggy’s Crypto Ventures
Despite Iggy’s confidence, her crypto ventures have raised serious ethical concerns.
Promoting a meme coin like MOTHER alongside an online casino could have far-reaching consequences, especially when considering the audience she can reach.
While her meme coin saw an initial surge in value — up 1,400% from its low of $0.004545 to an all-time high of $0.2406 on June 6—it has since lost more than 70% of its value.
Still, amidst the buzz surrounding her Motherland event, MOTHER saw a 22% rise in value over the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data.
However, hosting such an event to promote gambling and a memecoin raises questions about the integrity of the crypto industry.
Some fear that associating a cryptocurrency with gambling could encourage financial irresponsibility and foster gambling addiction, particularly among impressionable young followers.
Iggy vs. Vitalik: A Split in the Crypto World
Iggy’s ongoing feud with Vitalik Buterin reveals a larger divide within the crypto community.
On one side, there are figures like Buterin who are dedicated to the development and serious use of blockchain technology, and on the other, newcomers like Iggy who want to blend crypto with modern entertainment.
This divide is likely to intensify as more celebrities enter the space, bringing a different approach to how crypto is perceived and used.
Adding fuel to the fire, Iggy also took a swipe at Ethereum itself, praising Solana as a better alternative for retail expansion.
“I advised him to buy Solana,” she said, referring to a conversation she had with a traditional finance professional on a plane.
I shilled it to a tradfi guy sitting next to me on the plane right now - swear to God. Lmfao
He was asking about ETH & I told him whilst it’s no doubt more well known…
He should buy SOL.
He said why and I said better suited to retail expansion with transaction speed & less… https://t.co/lPlSBYQqlN
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) September 22, 2024
Her meme coin, MOTHER, runs on the Solana blockchain, and she’s made no secret of her preference for the network’s handling of congestion over Ethereum’s.
Just double checked I’m not and idiot…
Yup. I’m not! pic.twitter.com/GlkOWn96et
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) September 22, 2024
Ultimately, Iggy’s clash with Buterin symbolises more than just personal animosity — it’s a conflict between two opposing visions for the future of crypto.
While the old guard, represented by Buterin, aims for legitimacy and technological advancement, figures like Iggy are turning it into a spectacle, blurring the lines between serious finance and entertainment.
